Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-11-17
CHAPTER III.

Mr. Thorndyke continued writing steadily
for more than an hour. Indeed, so engrossed
was he ia his work that be faied to notice
the opening Of the door and the entrance in
to the apartment Of a beautiful girl, with
wavy chestnut hair and luminous brown eyes,
who crossed to where he was stated, and, rest
ing her hand gently upon his shoulder, stoop-
ell and kissed his forehead.
ELLA, darliug" exclaimed the Old gentle.
man. drawing her toward him and returning
her salute OF affection; II did not hear you
enter"
NO." she replied, with a smile. ''Your
mind was evidently in the clouds. But am
90 glad you are alone for want to chat with
you'll have been feeling depressed all day"
Then, noticing far-of expression in his eyes,
she exclaimed: But YOU, too, are sad ~
al was only thinking" he replied,
quickly.
Thinking Of WHAT" abe asked, softly
stroking his thin hair.
"Of the past, my child" he replied, in
broken voice. you do not know TO what ex-
tent | wronged you and your poor dead
mother. Not satisfied with deserving you
both, / executed, while abroad, a will in favor
of Frederick Norton, which would, in the
event Of my death, have deprived you, my In
nocent child, OF all but mere fraction of the
fortune have accumulated This unjust
document placed In the hands of my solicit
or., Lampley & Dade, Temple Bar, London,
with whom 1t still remains. Thank God
your mother never knew of this. Heaven
brought me 10 the realization Of my sin in
time to make come PREPARATION. But why was
not that gentle woman spared, that might
prove to her my sorrow for the past-show
myself worthy OF her forgivencssp and,
burying his face In his hands, he sobbed like
a child.
Compose yourself, dear father-dow eI-
claimed Ella, throwing her arms around his
neck. ~ know my mother Lowell you, and be-
fore her death forgave everything. Now let
us strive TO forget the past, and from this mo-
ment never refer to IL again"
my dear child" he replied, after q deep
pause, my sole object now is to insure your
happness--to atone for what have done.
With that end in view have made new will,
bequeathing nv entire estate to you ut my
DEATH" and he drew from the desk folded
document and extended 1t toward her, add
ing: See, this is It,"
Without realizing what she did, she took
the paper from his hand and mechanically
opened it; but when her gaze rested upon Its
contents the tears came into her eyes, and,
placing her heal upon her fathers shoulder,
she said, tendcrly:
20 fatherl let us think no more Of Wills
and death, but strive rather to enjoy what
brightness there is In life for u.s."
Upon the table beside the escritoire stood
the old gentleman's hat, and into 1t, In an abb
sent manner, she thrust the will. Little did
she dream, poor child, that that simple act
would exert powerful influence over her
whole after-llfe. They sat together talking
this old man aud his lovely daughter-build-
ing castles and Including in bright dreams OF
the future-dreams which were, alasl never
to be reslized-until the daylight had almost
/ faded from the room; then she arose, and,
kissing him again, retired to dress for tea,
while he finished writing his letters.
In the meantime Frederick Norton's "short
walk' had carrie him several miles from the
hotel. So absorbing were his thoughts that
| he did not realize the distance he had gone,
until the shades Of evening began to gather
and lights to appear in the windows of the
houses here and there; then he turned and
began to rctrace his steps. He Was evidently
In no very happy mood for his brows were
contracted, his face was pale, and his lips
were compressed.
80 he intends making q new will" he an
grily muttered to himself, giving everything
to her, and the fortune had hoped one day
to possess IL to slip from me at last. II
could only gain her love But that IL impos-
sible. She makes no effort TO conceal her dis
taste for me. The man whe wins her heart